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Tag: ex-militants

  • Ex-militants seek probe of PAP

    Ex-militants seek probe of PAP

    • Allege marginalisation

    Ex-militants in Akwa Ibom State have demanded probe of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), alleging massive corruption and marginalisation.

    In a statement yesterday by Akwa Ibom Ex-militants Forum, signed by its Secretary, Sunny Afiah, the group lamented that they had not been paid their monthly stipends for years.

    They said despite a Uyo High Court judgment, which mandated that they be paid; the PAP office had continued to withhold their stipends and in some instances had removed their names from the programme.

    The ex-agitators also alleged that they had not benefited from any PAP vocational/educational training and empowerment scheme.

    The statement said:  “Beneficiaries from Akwa Ibom State have been singled out to suffer untold marginalisation ranging from diversion of their monthly stipends to outright stoppage of monthly stipends without reason and substitution of authentic beneficiaries with unknown individuals.

    “None of us from the state has benefited from education or vocational training or empowerment. It is therefore pertinent to state that the injustice against us has reached its peak and we can no longer accept it.

    Read Also: Alleged hijack: N’Delta ex-militants petition FG, threaten to shutdown gas plant

    “Permit us to state here that one of the camps in Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta Liberation Movement, has been owed seven months stipends arrears to 20 beneficiaries since 2014 by the Presidential Amnesty Office.

    “We have made several efforts, but they ignored despite the Uyo High Court judgment mandating the Presidential Amnesty Office to pay.

    “In another instance, the office stopped the payment of monthly stipends of 22 beneficiaries of Ukanafun Freedom Fighters since 2010, a few months after enrolment and payment. Efforts have been made to ensure payment is made, but to no avail.

    “It is unfortunate to state here that the aim for which the Presidential Amnesty Programme was setup is about to be defeated as a result of discrimination, marginalisation, fraud and bias in the system.

    “We therefore call on the office of the National Security Adviser to the President, the Senate President, Dr. Godswill Akpabio; the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta; the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta; the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State; EFCC, ICPC and other relevant authorities to conduct investigation into the activities of the Presidential Amnesty Office in relation to the dealings with beneficiaries from Akwa Ibom State.”

  • Ex-militants: Tinubu’s Supreme Court victory judicial stamp of legitimacy

    Ex-militants: Tinubu’s Supreme Court victory judicial stamp of legitimacy

    The Niger Delta Coastline Vanguard (NDCV) has described President Bola Tinubu victory at the Supreme Court as a judicial stamp of legitimacy and landslide victory in the February 25 Presidential elections. 

     The ex-militant group congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the affirmation of his victory by the Court, maintaining that the time has to unite Nigeria.

    A congratulatory message by the leader of NDCV, ex- militant Akogun Job Omotuwa said the triumph of the President at the apex court was “the ultimate judicial stamp on the landslide victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer at the 2023 presidential poll held on February 25, 2023.”

    “The decision of the Supreme Court validating President Tinubu’s win as a victory for democracy, the rule of law and a landmark judgement in the nation’s electoral jurisprudence that has become a reference point for generations to com,” he said. 

     According to him,:”This laid to rest all doubts and controversies raised by the opposition about the presidential election. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi should join hands with President Tinubu to move the country forward politically, and  economically for the interest of Nigeria.”

    Irrespective of our political, ethnic and religious leanings, it’s time to support President Tinubu’s vision on ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ for good governance, Omotuwa stated .

    Read Also: Supreme Court to get more Justices soon, says CJN

    While appealing to President Tinubu to allow NDCV (Ilaje ex-militants) to handle the contracts of surveillance and monitoring to cover Ondo, Ogun and Lagos state littoral corridors.

    He said the NDCV has the capability, capacity, required intelligence and human resources to work with federal government security agencies in the surveillance of the areas, stressing that illegal oil bunkering, vandalism and sabotage would be a thing of the past.

    The stakeholders would ensure that there is peace, in Niger Delta region to further our unwavering support and commitment to actualizing the Nigeria of our dreams, Akogun Omotunwa said. 

  • Ex-militants seek pipeline protection contract for Ondo, Ogun, Lagos

    Ex-militants seek pipeline protection contract for Ondo, Ogun, Lagos

    Former Niger Delta militants in Ondo State have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation Limited (NNPCL) to decentralise pipeline protection contract in the Niger region

    The ex-militants said their appeal was to avoid imminent crisis in the region as well stop the disrespect for the Southwest region.

    President of the ex-militants, who spoke under the auspices of the Niger Delta Coastline Vanguard (NDCV) Akogun Omotuwa Job, begged President Tinubu to review the existing policy on the decentralization of the new
    surveillance project to accommodate leaders of ex-militants in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos State to
    avoid imminent crisis in the region.

    Omotuwa said it was to take everything from their environments through pipelines and denied them the opportunity to maintain the pipelines.

    He said they were aware of the serious implication the neglect of their agitation could cause to the region ‘moreso when the contract is awarded to person who is not too familiar with the region.’

    Read Also: Pipeline protection contract renewal: Southsouth groups hail NNPCL

    According to him, “We are also very much comfortable with the tremendous peace being enjoyed at the moment and we want it to continue.

    “The NDCV has the capacity, the required intelligence and human resources to
    collaborate with the federal government in the surveillance of pipeline and antibunkering
    activities in the area.

    “We are familiar with the terrain for effective and efficient output.

    “That we shall not allow or accept any deliberate attempt by government or agent of
    government to impose someone from another region who does not belong to our
    ethnic nationality on us to sustain the existing peace in the region.

  • Ex-militants vow to resist protests against Dokubo, Brambaifa

    Niger Delta ex-militants have expressed their disappointment over sustained protests against the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo, and Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    The ex-militants, who met at the weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, under the auspices of Conference of First Phase Ex-Agitators (CFPE), vowed to resist further protests against Dokubo and Brambaifa.

    A statement by the Chairman, Ifiemi D-Bull, and Senior National Adviser Chief Kalaiti Obadiah-1, said they would henceforth go after robbers and kidnappers operating at the Rivers and Bayelsa states axis of the East-West road.

    The ex-agitators described the protests as “professional”, saying their investigations showed that they were borne out of frivolities, bigotry, hostilities and political differences.

    They condemned the looting of empowerment packages at the amnesty warehouse in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma council in Bayelsa State by “security agencies and indigenes”.

    The statement reads: “We will not fold our hands against crimes that short-changed us. We are the victims. We condemn the act. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to set up investigation panel to look into the looting to stop the suspicion on Prof. Dokubo, even as we plead that Dokubo be retained to continue as Special Adviser and Coordinator of PAP.

    “Payments of stipends to the ex-agitators have been regular. Bursaries to students and school fees are released unhindered. Contracts are issued according to merit and social services to ex-agitators have not been ignored.”

    They noted that Brambaifa’s appointment as Acting Managing Director of NDDC was a welcome development, saying he was qualified for the position having been part of the Niger Delta struggle.

    The ex-militants insisted that his appointment was a clear indication of Buhari’s intelligence and visionary instincts in choosing the right people.

    According to them, the professor had rejuvenated the commission’s abandoned social welfare and empowerment projects, and women groups, youth organisations and medically-challenged persons were benefitting from Brambaifa’s inputs.

    They said: “We are proud of him as an Ijaw man, and doubly proud that he is a Bayelsan. We admire and appreciate his strides, and we urge him to be steadfast in his good work. We believe that the water hyacinth jobs and voluntary surveillance contracts would include members of the CFPE.”

    The ex-militants urged Buhari to confirm Brambaifa’s appointment as substantive managing director of the NDDC.

    On criminal activities on the East-West road, they said: “We realise that kidnappings, killings, robberies are big problems to all of us and our families. Businesses are collapsing because of these crimes. People no longer have the mind to move around and do business because of threats to their lives.

    “As ex-militants, we have embraced peace. This is the reason people confront us, desecrate our land and do whatever they want in the name of dirty crimes.

    “We are using this opportunity to let the world know that henceforth, whosoever attacks people on the East-West road, especially at the Bayelsa State axis, will have us to contend with. Such person will have to deal with us in a manner that we will make sure they will never ever survive.

    “We are sending this message to the entire world, Rivers and Bayelsa States to work together and do the very best possible because if they don’t stop, we shall take our action and enter the road.”

  • Our protest not against Brambaifa- Ex-militants

    Ex-militants under the Third Phase Presidential Amnesty Programme on Wednesday explained their recent protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was not targeted at the Acting Manager Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    In a statement by Third Phase National Leader, Tonye Bobo, aka Sir T and Secretary-General Karo Edor, aka OBJ, the ex-militants noted that their peaceful protest was to draw the attention of the commission to the plight of the youths.

    “We wish to state that Prof. Brambaifa is a man of integrity and visionary leader but people round him are sabotaging his good intention for the entire Niger Delta region.

    “We didn’t go out of our way to protest against Prof. Brambaifa, rather went for peaceful protests for our legitimate demands to prevail on the NDDC office to fast track the aged-long agitations for equity, fairness and justice in the region,” they said.

    The ex-militants, however, lambasted the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) for imputing wrong motives in their Port Harcourt protest.

    They described the RNDA as a faceless group and threatened unmask identities of Niger Delta leaders using the acronym to advance their selfish interest.

    The ex-militants said some double-faced individuals were hiding under RNDA to disturb the progress and development in the region.

    They said: “We wouldn’t have bordered to reply this faceless and uncoordinated group of the so called RNDA but it is disheartening to note that, they are only newspaper tigers, and their units commanders do not exist in anywhere in the region.

    “The leader of RNDA, one Major General Ezonebi, aka, Obama, is never a known agitator in the Niger Delta region but only claimed to be a general in the pages of Newspaper and only get a meal ticket from his disgruntled sponsors.

    “It is also not surprising that this RNDA, machination is to thwart the efforts of genuine agitators and those that have good intention for youths, rather than for their selfish and blind interest.

    “We challenge the RNDA, to come out for an intellectual debate on any platform on issues of the region, if really they claimed to be genuine freedom fighters.

    “We wish to still set the record straight that, there was no time the Federal government signed a ceasefire agreement between the acclaimed RNDA in 2016.

    “If the so called RNDA doesn’t desist from their nefarious activities of blackmail and pull-down syndrome that has characterized the genuine struggle of the region, we would not hesitate to expose those in public service and in the private sector claiming to be RNDA”.

  • Ex-militants endorse Buhari, Ogboru

    The Urhobo Ex-militant group has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for the February 16 presidential election.

    The group also endorsed Delta State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Great Ovedje Ogboru.

    The chairman, Gen. Abraham Ekokotu, who addressed reporters in Otor-Udu, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, said President Buhari’s re-eleection, and the election of Ogboru, are not negotiable.

    Ekokotu lamented that Deltans have suffered too long in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) bad government, saying the time has come for Ogboru to take what belongs to him.

    He said: “We call on all women, men and youths to go for their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to vote President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others in the general elections. We will ensure all our members participate in the exercise.

    “We are not ignorant of the fact that Ovedje Ogboru has won several elections in the state, but has always be denied because of the federal might. But we know that this time around, having him in a party like APC, there is no doubt that his votes will count, and that is why we are appealing to all to turn out en masse to vote for him.

    “We appeal to all Urhobos at home and in Diaspora to mobilise and support the candidature of all APC aspirants to ensure that the victory is achieved at the end of the day through the power of their PVC.”

  • Okowa gets backing from ex-militants, youths

    Ex-agitators and youths in Niger Delta have adopted Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for a second term.

    The former militants, and youths belong to the Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-militants and Youths for Atiku/Obi 2019.

    Led by Eshanekpe Israel aka Akpodoro, the group noted that Okowa deserved “even much more than a second term in office”, citing his impressive developmental initiatives in less than four years in office.

    Akpodoro, the national coordinator, spoke to reporters in Abuja, yesterday, saying  the endorsement came after consultations with stakeholders in the Delta project.

    He said equity based on zoning must be respected, noting that besides, Okowa had done better than his precedessors in terms of achievements, honesty, and sincerity of purpose.

    Akpodoro added that no government in the state’s history had taken such huge steps in infrastructural, human and material development, as ‘’this administration is selflessly doing’’.

    The coalition said Okowa, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) had given appointments to  all without discrimination in his bid to drive an all-inclusive government, and give the people a “sense of belonging’’.

    He listed roads and bridges built by the administration across the three senatorial districts, which he noted, had massively changed the narrative.

    The coalition is a 200,000-member group drawn from the leadership of former agitators in the Federal Government’s Amnesty programme, and a large youth population.

    It warned those it described as ‘’children of anarchy’’ not to cause disaffection by flying the ethnic flag for personal interest, saying Okowa’s support base and popularity cut across tribal divide, cautioning these “rebellious” characters not to undermine the peace in the state by creating divisions.

    The group noted that the Urhobo in Delta Central and Itsekiri in the southern district had their share of governance, adding that it would be reasonable those who served eight years each, support  Delta North to do same.

    Urhobo-born Akodoro, also coordinator of Urhobo Youth Forum for Change (UYFC), said the coalition had enough strength to drive the process of returning the Ika-born politician to the Government House.

    ‘’This is a PDP state and will remain so for a long time to come. We’ll deliver bulk votes to the governor from the eight Urhobo councils.

    But Akpodoro wondered why an Urhobo man would challenge a second term bid of a Delta North candidate?

    He stressed that the political class had established a zoning system, with the two districts serving 16 of eight years each.

    The North, he noted, had not even completed its four-year term, yet ‘’some selfish interests were angling to undermine a system that strengthens our brotherhood, uniting us beyond politics.’’

    “In the name of crass politics, some persons choose to play dirty deceiving themselves by wearing deceptive democratic faces, whereas they are anti-democratic elements, who have shown enough disdain for democratic norms.

    “The coalition shall be up against whoever wants to sabotage zoning, and Okowa’s friends shall be our friends while his enemies shall be our enemies, “Akpodoro said.

    He added that the group at the national level would work to enthrone Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and ex-Governor Peter Obi, to oust the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration.

    He said Nigerians must rise up to end the regime of debilitating hunger in the land bequeathed on Nigerians by the ineptitude of the Buhari government.

    ‘’The situation in the country was an avoidable malady brought by the deception of APC, which captured power with lies and blackmail’’.

    Buhari, he said, should be preparing his handover note.

  • We’ll ensure Buhari’s victory in 2019, say ex-militants

    Ex-militants under the platform of the Coalition of Progressive Niger Delta ex-militants (CPNDE) yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Lagos with a resolve to work for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The ex-militants said their decision to support Buhari’s second term bid was based on his efforts at deepening peace and stability in the Niger Delta by initiating meaningful projects and enhancement of human capital development through the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    In a statement signed by its President Edeinowei Galabagalaba and Secretary, Gbobgo Eduobor, the group dismissed threats by a self-styled General Isreal Eshanekpe Akporodo to work against President Buhari’s re-election. It said Akporodo’s threat was an effort at seeking political patronage.

    “The so-called National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-agitators which Akporodo claims to lead, is a phantom group merely on the pages of newspapers to promote his personal interest. He lacks the capacity to drive a process that would negatively affect the political fortunes of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Niger Delta region.

    We are resolute in our decision to ensure victory for Buhari in the Niger Delta in the 2019 presidential election. Towards this end, we have commenced consultative meetings to forge a common front.

    The Coalition of Progressive Niger Delta Ex-Militants, comprising several genuine camp leaders and their foot soldiers affirm our unwavering support for President Buhari”.

  • Ex-militants cry out over alleged diversion of N30m stipends 

    Ex- militants enrolled into the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) under the Asaraba Pillars Camp (ASPC) Epebu community have lamented an alleged diversion of their monthly stipends valued at about N30m.

    Investigations Wednesday revealed that Mr. Munalayefa Gibson, who leads the camp, is now a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly representing Ogbia Constituency II.

    It was also gathered that the ex-militants had not received their stipends since September 2017 and all efforts to get the money proved abortive.

    The victims of nonpayment were said to have started raising the alarm over their predicament in December 2017 when one of the camp members, Nicholas Nathaniel, wrote to the then amnesty Coordinator, Paul Boroh, via an email.

    Read Also:Ex-militants urge Fed Govt to settle unpaid allowances

    Nathaniel in the document dated December 19, told the Presidential Adviser that they had not been paid for three months and their camp leader, Munalayefa blamed it on the opening of new accounts and the amnesty office.

    But he said that they felt that the lawmaker lied to them following a discovery that a few members from the camp still received their stipends.

    “The majority of the youths involved are angry and may soon engage in violent actions that will affect societal peace and tranquility if nothing is done”, he said.

    However, Boroh’s response dated December 20 insisting that all members of the camp had been paid was said to have led to the suspicion that their money had been diverted by their camp leader.

    It was also found that the ex-militants engaged the services of a legal firm, Stanley Damabide and Partners to write a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in January 26th accusing Munalayefa of fraud.

    The legal firm in the petition requested the EFCC to investigate the matter with a view to prosecuting the lawmaker and his cohorts.

    The petition specifically accused the lawmaker of working in connivance with some unnamed officials in the amnesty office to defraud members of the camp.

    Investigations further revealed that after months of fruitless wait on the

    EFCC to carry out due diligence on the matter, the ex-militants in June 13, 2018 wrote a fresh petition to the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions in the National Assembly.

    In the petition written by a legal firm, JUS Scenario and signed by Ndeze Anthony, the ex-militants lamented that nonpayment of their stipends brought untold hardship to them and their families.

    They said despite confirmations that the money had been paid, no explanations were given why they had not received their stipends.

    The ex-agitators appealed to the committee chairman to invite all the parties including Munalayefa to “unravel this unacceptable perceived illegality and ensure the payment of the withheld stipends”.

    In another petition to the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, dated June 13, the ex-militants complained that despite all their complaints, all the parties involved in the payment of their stipends had done nothing to address the perceived injustice.

    Still in a fresh complaint to the incumbent Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokuboh, the legal firm, JUS Scenario, said Munalayefa had yet to give reasons why the stipends had not been paid to the ex-militants.

    “Our clients are further worried and uncomfortable at the response of Skye Bank each time they complain to its management of non-receipt of their monthly stipend that their accounts have been blocked”, the law firm said in the petition.

    The firm in the document dated May 14 and signed by Ndeze Anthony asked the amnesty office to clarify the matter to avert resort to self-help.

    Also writing under the auspices of Asaraba Progressive Foundation (APD), the ex-militants urged the Bayelsa Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to wade into the matter and resolve the crisis.

    The ex-agitators in the petition date July 26 and signed by Nathaniel, Gbalabho Kuroekegha and Mark Abaiaguo, demand immediate payment of their stipends.

    They said: “This unfortunate incident of diversion and withholding about 11 months amnesty stipends kept the deprived aggrieved youths upset as it has brought about untold hardship in them and their families.

    “Their children are dying and landlord are chasing these youths out of their houses as they cannot afford to for their bills. The stipend has been their source of survival and lack of payment is creating fresh agitation.

    “For the records, GIbson Munalayefa was the camp leader until he became a member of House of Assembly. But he has always issued threats rather than pay attention to the plights of camp members”.

    The ex-agitators further told the governor: “We are law-abiding and willing to cooperate with all legal and constitutional process to attain justice in Asaraba Pillars Camp. We will not succumb to the usual threats.

    “But your office should be informed that if anything happens to Nicholas Nathaniel and the other persons, who are legitimately fighting for their rights, Munalayefa and others should be held responsible”.

    When contacted, Munalayefa described all the allegations against him as false insisting that the petitioners were acting without facts.

    He said: “These are false allegations without facts. Besides, l am not responsible for payments of amnesty salaries but the office in Abuja if they are genuine beneficiaries except they are ghosts.

    “They are looking for means to further destroy my image because of somebody’s political ambition. The court will justify the truth by God’s grace. I am not the one that usually pay amnesty salaries. Everybody knows is political and I will sue anybody involved”.

  • Ex-militants hail exodus from APC

    A group of ex-militants has lauded the courage of 15 former All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the National Assembly, who defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Speaking under the aegis of the Niger Delta Mandators (NDM), the group, led by Jerome Akpobore, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, described APC as barren and worthless.

    Mandators noted the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC ‘’relishes a use and dump political style”, stating it is why the lawmakers left.

    Akpobore said the group had withdrawn its support for the APC.

    NDM deplored the manner the former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso was jilted after using him to achieve success in 2015.

    According to the group,   it will float and sink with Kwankwanso, and called on PDP to give its ticket to the ex-governor if it wants to rule the country again next year.

    Of all those aspiring for the Presidency in PDP, NDM stressed only Kwankwanso has the credentials to fly its ticket and win in 2019.

    It described Transport minister Chibuike Amaechi, as a political liability to the APC, saying the former governor couldn’t deliver his state to his APC when he was governor.

    “We declared and went into campaign for Buhari relying on the promise by Amaechi to bankroll our activities only to realise later that he was only using us as his slaves. Till date, Amaechi after that election doesn’t pick the calls by our leadership. To him, it is winner takes all.

    “In Kwankwanso we have a detribalised leader, who’s versatile in leadership. He’s not crude, neither is he given to clannishness. A statesman par excellence, the lawmaker is a pan-Nigerian nationalist.

    ‘’We call on all Nigerians particularly the Niger Deltans, to rise up and vote against deception, liars, dishonesty, poverty,  despondency next year.”

    Akpobore called on Kwankwanso to declare his intention now.